Features: Scottish Clan Early Genealogy - Clan Kerr

Motto: Sero sed serio (Late but in earnest)
Historic Seat: Ferniehirst Castle
District: Roxburgh
Associated Surnames: Carr, Cessford
Associated Tartans:

Early Kerr Genealogy and History:
(Excerpt from "The Scottish Clans and Their Tartans", James Grant, 1906)

John Kerr of the Forest of Selkirk, living 1357, was the father of Henry, Sheriff of Roxburgh, whose son, Robert of Auldtounburn, was the father of Andrew of Auldtounburn. This Andrew Kerr had three sons; from the youngest, Thomas, came the Kerrs of Gateshaw; and from the second, James, came the Kerrs of Linton. The eldest son, Andrew, was the father of Walter of Cessford, who had two sons; from the younger, Mark, descended the Kerrs of Dolphingstoun, Littledean, and Morriston; the elder son, Sir Robert of Caverton, died in his father's lifetime, leaving two sons, George of Faudonside, and Sir Andrew, who succeeded his grandfather in Cessford. This Sir Andrew had three sons (1) Sir Walter of Cessford; (2) Mark, Abbot of Newbottle; and (3) Thomas of Ferniehirst. These three sons all left descendants, so we will take them in order.

The eldest Sir Walter (1) was grandfather of Robert Kerr who was created Earl of Roxburgh, 1616. The Earl was twice married. By his first marriage he had a son, William, Lord Kerr, who died without issue, 1617, and a daughter, Jean, who married John Drummond, second Earl of Perth. By his second marriage the Earl had a son, Harry, Lord Kerr, who died leaving two daughters; the elder, Jean, married her cousin, William (fourth son of John, second Earl of Perth), who then became second Earl of Roxburgh; the younger, Margaret, married Sir James Innes, Baronet. William, second Earl had two sons, Robert, third Earl, and John who succeeded to the Barony of Bellenden of Broughton. The third Earl's second son, John, fifth Earl, was created Duke of Roxburgh, 1707, but on the death of his grandson, John, third Duke, 1804, this title devolved on his kinsman, William, seventh Lord Bellenden of Broughton, but on his death the following year without issue, the Dukedom devolved on Sir James Innes, the great-grandson of the above-named Sir James Innes, and his great-grandson, Henry John, is the eighth and present Duke of Roxburgh.

We will now return to (2) Mark, Abbot of Newbottle. His son, Mark, was created Earl of Lothian, 1606, but the title became extinct in his family by the death of his son Robert, second Earl, in 1624.

We will now take up the descendants of the third son of Sir Andrew of Cessford, namely (3) Thomas of Ferniehirst. He had three sons, Andrew of Ferniehirst; Thomas, Abbot of Kelso; and Ralph from whom descended the Kerrs of Prymsidelock, and Greenhead. The eldest, Andrew, was father of Sir John, and also of Robert of Ancrum. Sir John was succeeded by his son, Sir Thomas of Ferniehirst, who was twice married. By his first marriage he had a son Andrew created Lord Jedburgh, and Robert, created Earl of Somerset, 1613. Robert of Ancrum, above named, was father of William, who had two sons - William, from whom descended the Kerrs of Linton; and Sir Robert, created Earl of Ancrum, 1633. He was twice married. By his first marriage he had William, who became third Earl of Lothian, and by his second marriage he had Charles, second Earl of Ancrum. William Earl of Lothian, was succeeded by his son Robert, fourth Earl, who also succeeded to the Earldom of Ancrum, and was created Marquess of Lothian, 1701. His direct descendant in the ninth degree is Robert Schomberg, tenth and present Marquess of Lothian.

(End excerpt)

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